Sheet piling bulkhead



MarchZl, Q F. DOYLE 1,902,397

SHEET FILING BULKHEAD Filed Sept. 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0. F. DOYLE SHEET FILING BULKHEAD March 21, 1933- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.

Ennentor Gttornegs Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNl'i" OTIS F. DOYLE, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA SHEET FILING BULKHEAD Application filed. September The present invention relates to improvements in sheet piling bulkhead more particularly for use in connection with old or new levees or other embankments.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved bulkhead chiefly for the purpose of reinforcing and waterproofing levees. V 1

' A further object of the invention is to 10 provide an improved bulkhead which will be rigid, permanent and water-tightl With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding 7 parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a fragmentary side view of an improved bulkhead constructed according to the present invention. I I Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 in Figure 1. I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bulkhead taken on an enlarged scale with portions broken away and parts shown in section. V r

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the group of timbers employed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary edge view of timber No. 4.

Figure 6 is a similar view of timber No. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the bulkhead is made up ofa number of groups of the piling timbers, one group being shown in Figure 4 and consisting of the timbers denominated 1 to 5 inclusive.

The piling may bemade in suitable dimensions, each timber being for instance three inches thick, eight inches wide, and of such length as to reach below the stream 45 bed and above the'top of the levee, as indicated in Figure 2. The timbers are surfaced on all four sides; and they are impregnated with creosote, the creosote penetrating every fiber and cell of the wood, thus making the same perinanently water resist- 7, 1932. Serial No. 632,026.

ing- The creosote also completely covers the surface-of the timbers.

The first timber to be driven beveled equally on its two broad surfaces asindicated at 6 and 7, thus bringing the same to a sharpened edge 8 to facilitate the penetration of the timber into the earth. The beveling takes place at a distance of '34P". proximately eight inches from its. lower end. This wedge-shaped timber is driven into place with its broad face parallel to the river bed. r

Timber No. 2 is'next driven and isbeveled on both side faces 9 in the same manner as timber N0. 1. Additionally timber N0. 2 is beveled as to its edge 10 away from that edge which engages against tlIIIbGI N O'. 1.

This timber No. 2 is placed against one edge of the first timber with its straight edge against said first timber and its beveled edge 10 away from the first timber. Timber No. 2 is then driven down and as it enters the, earth its beveled edge 10 actsas a wedge which crowds the timber No. 2 against the edge of the first driven timber. When the desired depth has been reached, the creosote, which encases both timbers, acts'as a seal between the two members. 1

The member 3 is shaped at its lower end exactly like timber 2 having the beveled side walls 11 and the beveled end wall 12.

Timber 4:, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, is beveled to a distance of approximately eight inches from'its lower end on its outer broad face as indicatedat 13. This is the face away from the timbers 1 and 2. The timber a is placed with its straight face against the two-previously driventimbers 1 and 2 in such position as to lap over approximately 'one-halfof eachof the timbers '1 and 2, the joint between timbers 1 and'2 being completely covered by timber 4:,.fone-halfof which extends on either side of the "joint (see Fi'gureB, where 14 is a filler piece). As timber 4 is driven in place, by virtue of its'b'eveled lower end 13,it forces itself tightly against the previously driven timbers 1 and 2and follows said timbers to the desireddepth, coming to restsecurely sealed against theprevlously driven members.

Timber 5 ,is beveled on its outer broad face as indicated at 15 in Figures 4 and 5 and on the side away from the timbers 2 and Timber 5 is also beveled on its lower end as indicated at 16. hen driven into place these beveled surfaces force the timber securely against the previously driven timbers 2 and 3 in a lateral direction and in an edgewise direction against the timber 4, forming a seal between all'of said timbers.

Of course, it will be understood that timber 4E may be driven into place before timber 8, and in fact the preferred arrangement will be to drive timber 1 into place initially, then to drive timber 2, then timbers 4, 3 and 5 in the order named. These five timbers form an effectivegroup and the remaining timbers form similar groups and are cut,

constructed andshaped as indicated to force the timbers both as to their edges and to their lateral faces close together. The bulkhead is extended to any desired length by the provision'of a number of these groups.

As the piles are driven they are lined up by two sets of double stringers. One set, composed of the stringers 17 is leveled to the line which will form the top of the bulk head. The other set 183s leveled to a line as near the dirt line as practicable. The dirt levee is indicated at 23 in Figure 2. The stringers are held together by bolts, nuts and washers indicated generally at 19 and 20 or by other suitable fastening means and such stringers may be made of the same material as the piling,being preferably cut of such length as to break joints. When the piling has been driven into place, the stringers 17 and 18 are securely bolted in place.

When the stringers have been bolted in place, a cap 21, which covers the entire upper extremity of the piling and the stringers is secured in place, as by the use of lag screws or other appropriate fastenings 22.

It will be appreciated that this structure forms a water-tight, rigid and permanent bulkhead and can be used wherever it is desired to retain water or to support dirt walls. The lower extremity of the piling, as indicated in Figure 2, will preferably reach a depth below the stream bed and the upper extremity will rise above the levee to a distance of approximately three feet. The bulkhead is. water-tight, rigid and permanent because of first, the shape given to the lower ends of the piling; second, the manner in which the piles are set in relation to'each other; third, the manner in which the piles are held in place and reinforcedrabovethe dirt level; and fourth, the materials of which the bulkhead is made. i

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above spe cifically described embodiment of this in vention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope. of the following claims:

hat is claimed is:

1. An improved sheet piling bulkhead comprising groups of vertical timbers associated together and driven into the levee, three of said timbers in the group lying end. to end, the remaining two timbers of the group extending end to end with respect to one another and beside the first three timbers and bridging the joints between the first three timbers, the first three timbers being constructed and adapted to be driven into the "ground in a definite order, the first timber. having beveled walls to facilitate insertion, the'second timber also having beveled side walls to facilitate insertion and a beveled end wallaway rom the first timber,

ajthird timber having beveled sides and a beveled end wall away from the second timber, the other two timbers being also adapted and constructed. to be driven into the ground in a definite order, the fourth timber being driven into the ground at any" time after the positioning of the first two timbers and having a beveled side face away from the first two timbers, the fifth timber being driven'into place after the fourth timber and having a beveled end wall away from the fourth timber.

2. An improved sheet piling bulkhead comprising groups of vertical timbers associated together and driven into the levee, three of said timbers in the group lying end to end, the remaining two timbers of the group extendingv end'to end with respect to one another and beside the first threetimbers and bridging the joints between the first three timbers, the first three timbers being constructed and adapted to be driven into the ground in a definite order, the first timber having beveled walls to facilitate insertion, the second timber also having beveled side walls to facilitate insertion and a beveled end wall away from the first timber, a third timber having beveled sides and a beveled end wall away from the second timber, the other two timbers being also adapt-- ed and constructed to be driven into the ground in a definite order, the fourth timber being driven into the ground at any time after the positioning of the first'two timbers and having a beveled side face away from the first two timbers, the fifth timber being driven into placeafter the fourth timber and having a beveled end wall away from the fourth timber, and stringers for securing the piling timbers together.

3. An improved sheet piling bulkhead comprising groups of vertical timbers associated together and driven into the levee, three of said timbers in the group lying end to end, the remaining two timbers of the group extending end to end with respect to one another and beside the first three timbers and bridging the joints between the first three timbers, the first three timbers being constructed and adapted to be driven into the ground in a definite order, the first timber having beveled walls to facilitate insertion, the second timber also having beveled side walls to facilitate insertion and a beveled end wall away from the first timber, a third timber having beveled sides and a beveled end wall away from the second timber, the other two timbers being also adapted and constructed to be driven into the ground in a definite order, the fourth timber being driven into the ground at any time after the positioning of the first two timbers and having a beveled side face away from the first two timbers, the fifth timber being driven into place after the fourth timber and having a beveled end wall away from the fourth timber, stringers for connecting the piling timbers together, and a cap piece extending over the upper edges of the piling timbers.

4. An improved sheet piling bulkhead comprising groups of vertical timbers associated together and driven into the levee, three of said timbers in the group lying end to end, the remaining two timbers of the group extending end to end with respect to one another and beside the first three timbers and bridging the joints between the first three timbers, the first three timbers eing constructed and adapted to be driven into the ground in a definite order, the first timber having beveled walls to facilitate insertion, the second timber also having beveled side walls to facilitate insertion and a beveled end wall away from the first timher, a third timber having beveled sides and V a beveled end wall away from the second timber, the other two timbers being also adapted and constructed to be driven into the ground in a definite order, the fourth timber being driven into the ground at any time after the positioning of the first two timbers and having a beveled side face away from-the first two timbers, the fifth timber being driven into place after the fourth timber and having a beveled end'wall away from the fourth timber, a pair of stringers extending on opposite sides of the piling timbers and fixed thereto and to one another, a second group of stringers secured to the opposite sides of the piling in spaced relation above the first mentioned stringers, and a cap secured over the last mentioned stringers and upper ends of the timbers.

OTIS F. DOYLE. 

